John Shaw Neilson (1872-1942) was a major Australian poet. Neilson’s poetry appeared in a range of magazines and newspapers, including The Australasian, The Bookfellow, The Bulletin, The Weekly Times, and The Worker. During his lifetime, five books of his poetry were published. … [Read more...] about John Shaw Neilson: A biography
IAC biographies
John Marsden
John Marsden (1950-2024) was a teacher, author, and poet. He was especially well-known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began (1993). Marsden was born in Melbourne (Victoria) on 27 September 1950. His parents were Eustace Cullen Hudson and Jeanne Lawler … [Read more...] about John Marsden
Gertrude Lawson
Gertrude Lawson, sometimes known as “Gertie”, was an author, and the sister of Henry Lawson. She wrote articles and short stories, and for a short period managed the Dawn magazine. Gertrude Eloise Lawson was born in Mudgee, New South Wales, on 30 April 1877 (along with her … [Read more...] about Gertrude Lawson
Barcroft Boake
Barcroft Henry Thomas Boake, known to some as “Bartie”, was a poet and writer. He wrote poetry for The Bulletin and The Sydney Mail, and was on an upwards trajectory in the literary world when he tragically committed suicide at the age of 26. He is especially well-known for his … [Read more...] about Barcroft Boake
Weston Phillips
Weston Phillips (1835?-1883) was a chemist, explorer, and drover. He was part of the 1862 expedition, led by Alfred Howitt, to search for the missing Burke and Wills expedition. Weston was born in England in about 1835. His father, Dr. Charles Phillips, was a surgeon, although … [Read more...] about Weston Phillips
Thomas Richard Roydhouse
Thomas Richard Roydhouse was a journalist, editor, and author. He wrote articles for newspapers in New Zealand, Victoria, and New South Wales. His authorship of The Labour Party in New South Wales (1892) and The Coloured Conquest (1904) were particularly significant contributions … [Read more...] about Thomas Richard Roydhouse
John Neilson
John Neilson (1844-1922) was a farmer, contractor, and poet. His works were published in various newspapers, mainly in South Australia and Victoria, being the states (or colonies) in which he was living. His poetry was also printed in two posthumous books of his collected works. … [Read more...] about John Neilson
Frank Roberts (soldier) (1888-1918)
Francis William Roberts, known as Frank, was born in South Melbourne in 1888. His parents were John Garibaldi Roberts and Roberta Margaret Roberts (née Dickson). He had two younger siblings — a sister, Gwen Dickson Roberts (born 1891, who was given her mother’s maiden name as her … [Read more...] about Frank Roberts (soldier) (1888-1918)
Richard Yeoman
Richard Yeoman (1856-1914) was a leading commercial photographer, who ran a photography business in Melbourne (Victoria) in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Like other commercial photographers in the mid to late 19th Century, he made cartes de visite (photographic … [Read more...] about Richard Yeoman
Thomas Kennedy
Thomas Kennedy (1817-1859) was a miner, who had a minor role in the events of the Eureka Rebellion of 1854. Kennedy was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, in approximately 1817 (his exact date of birth is unknown).[1] Along with many others, who were seeking a fortune in gold, he … [Read more...] about Thomas Kennedy
Una Shaw
Una Yeatman Shaw (1900-1970) was an Australian poet from Singleton (north-west of Newcastle, NSW). Her poetry was published in various newspapers and periodicals, including The Australian Woman’s Mirror and the monthly poetry magazine Birth: A Little Journal of Australian … [Read more...] about Una Shaw
John Le Gay Brereton
John Le Gay Brereton (junior), known to his friends as “Jack”, was an author, poet, literary critic, and scholar. He was considered to be a leading scholar on Elizabethan literature. He was born in Sydney (NSW), on 2 September 1871. His parents were John Le Gay Brereton … [Read more...] about John Le Gay Brereton
P. I. O’Leary
Patrick Ignatius Davitt O’Leary was a journalist and poet. He wrote articles, and some poetry, for several publications, and became widely known for his writings in The Advocate (Melbourne), especially on the subject of Australian literature. His work was often signed “P. I. … [Read more...] about P. I. O’Leary
Ethel Turner
Ethel Turner was an author and poet, especially known as a writer of novels for children and young adults. Her most famous book is undoubtedly Seven Little Australians (1894). Ethel was born in Balby (Yorkshire, England), on 24 January 1870. She was the second child of Bennett … [Read more...] about Ethel Turner
William Baylebridge
William Baylebridge was an author, poet, and philosopher. He was regarded as one of the leading Australian writers of his time. Baylebridge was born Charles William Blocksidge in East Brisbane, Queensland, on 12 December 1883. He was the son of George Henry Blocksidge (a real … [Read more...] about William Baylebridge
Norman L. Beurle
Norman Louis Beurle was a Baptist Church minister and poet. His poems, often with a religious tint, were published in various Australian newspapers, including The Australasian, The Herald, and The Weekly Times. Norman L. Beurle was born in South Yarra (Melbourne, Victoria) in … [Read more...] about Norman L. Beurle
W. T. Goodge
William Thomas Goodge was a poet, author, journalist, and newspaper editor. He wrote topical poetry and humorous verse, as well as articles and short stories. He was particularly well-known in Orange (NSW), where he lived for many years, and where he worked as the editor of one … [Read more...] about W. T. Goodge
Erle Cox
Erle Cox was born in Emerald Hill (South Melbourne, Vic.), on 15 August 1873. He worked in the wine-growing industry in Rutherglen (Vic.), then moved to Tasmania and became a Launceston-based travelling tobacco sales representative. He married Mary Ellen Kilborn on 24 December … [Read more...] about Erle Cox
L. E. Homfray
Lucy Everett Homfray (1873-1951) was an Australian poet and author. Many of her poems had a patriotic or religious bent. Although only a minor poet, she had a significant number of pieces published.[1] She was born in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, on 20 May 1873. Her parents … [Read more...] about L. E. Homfray
Jack Moses
John Moses (1861-1945), commonly known as “Jack”, was an author, poet, entertainer, and wine salesman. He is best known as the author of the famous poem “Nine Miles from Gundagai”. He was born in George Street, Sydney (New South Wales), on 12 January 1861. As his name … [Read more...] about Jack Moses
E. J. Brady
Edwin James Brady was an author, editor, and poet. He wrote eighteen books and edited at least another two, as well as working as a newspaper journalist and editor. Brady was born in Carcoar, New South Wales, on 7 August 1869. Both his father (Edward John Brady, a mounted … [Read more...] about E. J. Brady
P. R. Stephensen
Percy Reginald Stephensen (1901-1965) was an author, editor, publisher, and poet. He is regarded as a major figure in the push for Australian cultural nationalism, a reputation especially earned with the publication of his book, The Foundations of Culture in Australia (1936). He … [Read more...] about P. R. Stephensen
A. G. Stephens
Alfred George Stephens was an editor and publisher, as well as being an author, literary critic, and poet. He is regarded as a major figure in Australia’s literary history, having encouraged a large number of Australian authors (including the editing and publishing of many of … [Read more...] about A. G. Stephens
Bernard O’Dowd
Bernard O’Dowd was an Australian poet, born on 11 April 1866 at Beaufort, Victoria (north-west of Ballarat). O’Dowd had some of his early poetry published in the Ballarat Courier newspaper. He also contributed poetry to The Bulletin magazine. His poetical works were published … [Read more...] about Bernard O’Dowd
Edwin Greenslade Murphy (“Dryblower”)
[Editor: This article provides biographical information about Edwin Greenslade Murphy (“Dryblower”); for various works by him, click here.] Edwin Greenslade Murphy, who wrote under the name of “Dryblower”, was a popular author and poet, especially in the state of Western … [Read more...] about Edwin Greenslade Murphy (“Dryblower”)